Left Hand Creek became so swollen with rainwater Friday that it crested over U.S. 36, flooding nearby houses and stranding residents.

Lefthand Fire Protection District spokesman David Miller, who moved to the area in 1989, said the overflowing creek was the "craziest" he'd ever seen it.

"Two nights ago, Left Hand was a small little creek," he said. "But with all the rain and water we've had, it just cluttered up. Debris jammed up and overflowed the creek. It came across the road and turned into another creek and captured some homeowners between two rivers almost."

Rescue crews from Summit County helped Suzanne Sophocles and her two dogs out of her house on Streamcrest Drive, just south of Lefthand Canyon Drive.

Sophocles tried to leave her home Thursday afternoon when water levels around her house went down slightly, but she wasn't able to evacuate. Water flooded onto her deck and eventually, into her home.

"My whole yard is gone and I have a river surrounding the house on all sides," she said. "I don't know, maybe the river will choose to be there for good. I don't know if it's ever going to go away."

When Sophocles saw rescue team members approaching, it felt like a "dream," she said, holding back tears.

The rescue crew surrounded her on four sides in a diamond shape and slowly walked her across the thigh-high rushing waters to safety. They also rescued her two dogs.

"They knew it was a serious situation and they stayed right by my side and kept me company and comforted me," Sophocles said.

Fiona Havlish and her daughter Michaela Havlish, 15, were rescued along with their three dogs and one cat. Even after spending Thursday night without electricity, stranded in her home, Fiona Havlish was able to make light of the situation.

"I now have creekfront property," she said.

Fiona Havlish said she debated evacuating Thursday morning, but ultimately decided not to. By Friday, her cell phone battery was at about 40 percent and she was grateful for the rescue crews.

"It was really hard to make up our mind as to what to do and what not to do," she said. "I've never been in a flood."

Fiona Havlish said Left Hand Creek was flowing at least 20 feet wider than normal, and she had more than three feet of water in her basement. Her driveway looked like a river, she said.

"It feels so good to be on the other side," she said. "It feels a lot better than I thought it would."

Sandi and Jim Fitzgerald, who have lived near Lefthand Canyon for 40 years, watched as rushing water demolished their yard, several decorative ponds, a shed and tennis court. Their basement is full of mud and some water.

When Sandi Fitzgerald, 65, looked upstream Friday, she saw something that brought a smile to her face.

"Someone's rocking chair is just sitting right there in the middle of the stream," she said. "I thought maybe it's an angel here to watch over us."

Dye pours in 19 for TrojansSmothering. Confounding. And just a tad frustrating ... at least for the opposition.
Longmont's defense, whether they are playing a 1-3-1 zone, 2-3 zone or man-to-man -- and it can switch from possession to possession -- can give teams fits. Full Story

The Boulder alt-country band gives its EPs names such as Death and Resurrection, and its songs bear the mark of hard truths and sin. But the punk energy behind the playing, and the sense that it's all in good fun, make it OK to dance to a song like "Death." Full Story